1970s photos

My friend Em had this on her blog, and I died laughing. So I thought I would steal her idea. You can do this yourself at http://www.yearbookyourself.com/.




David's photo is set in 1970,











While mine is in 1976.

Ugly Photo Tag

There are some things that no amount of photoshopping can fix.

This is an Ugly Photo Tag. I dare you all to post an ugly picture of yourself. C'mon, it'll be fun. :)

Girls Camp

So my friend Heidi was going through some old pictures, and found this gem of me at girls camp circa 1990. I thought it was funny. I must be thinking something like "whose comb is this?"

Synchronized Diving

Is anyone else watching the synchronized diving in the Olympics?

They are pretty cool. But the lady commentator for this event is very annoying. She sounds like Nancy Grace. I wish I could mute the commentators sometimes, without turning off all of the sound.

The Olympics have begun!

How comfortable would you feel dressed like this playing beach volleyball for all the world to see? Maybe if I had a body like theirs I'd feel comfortable, but somehow I still doubt it. I'd be too worried about making sure that all my body parts stayed covered. It doesn't seem to bother them much though. Go team USA!

Worrie Wart

Jasper: "I stink real bad. Can I take a shower?"

Me: "Um. . . yes please!"

Jasper: "I smell like this friend I use to have's house."

Me: "What did your friend's house smell like?"

Jasper: "Well, they use to barf in their house and not clean it up."

Me: "Hurry quickly and take a shower NOW!"

So I'm now 29 weeks pregnant, 7 months and in my third trimester. I'm in the homestretch and getting more and more nervous. I now meet with my doctor every two weeks. I keep thinking of all the horrible things that could happen. I've had friends and family, and ward members who have had really sad things happen to them and their babies in this third trimester, and my mind keeps racing and imagining up all sorts of "what-ifs". What if I go into labor prematurely? What if my baby dies? What if for some reason I can't have an epidural and I have to have an insane labor without meds? What if my ankles swell even more, and I have to be wheelchair bound for the remaining pregnancy? What if we never finish the basement, and the baby's nursery is permanently in the living room? What if he comes out an octopus (he already feels like he has 8 legs with the amount of kicking and bouncing that goes on in my engorged tummy)?

I know that most of the above is out of my hands and I need to think positively and not about all the things that could go wrong, but sometimes that is easier said than done.

Thank goodness Jasper is good for a laugh!

Garage Sale-ing and stuff

Staci and Anne-Marie came down to my house to help me go garage sale-ing for some baby stuff. We set an ambitious goal to leave my house by 7 am, but of course this really turned to close to 9. I got to drive our new (new for us) '93 GMC, in case we found anything good so we could just stick it in back of the truck. One of the fun quirks about our truck is the power steering. The steering works just great while I am pushing hard on the gas pedal. But as soon as I have my foot off the gas (like to turn into a parking space or back out of one, or turn a sharp corner) - the power steering disappears and I have to use my mighty strength. Staci was the photographer for our outing and snapped a few pics.

Here I am starting the car:

Here is Anne-Marie, afraid of my driving:


We found parking quickly at Harmon's



Some pregnant pictures:

A couple of our finds:

This 1 year old Peg-Pérego stroller was quite a steal. I had never hear of the brand and came upon this stroller at our first garage sale stop. The lady selling them had everything Peg-Pérego and loved the brand. She first offered it to me for $100 and in my mind I thought "lame! I hate it at garage sales when they are trying to make a ton of money. I'm not buying this for $100." I should have done my research. Luckily Staci took over and looked at this one, and had the lady show us all its amazing features. Then the lady offered it, and a bassinette for $75, because she said I had "good energy."

I didn't want to buy it right then, so we drove off saying we'd probably be back. We quickly called my sister Becky in Seattle and she said "What! Go back NOW. That is such a steal. The Peg-Pérego brand is like the Mercedes Benz of strollers. My crap stroller from Target even cost $100 - you need to go back and get it!" So, now panicked, I tried to do a U-turn in my non-power steering vehicle and ended up causing a traffic jam as I made a 6 point turn on a narrow road. We made it back and I paid $80, since I had no smaller bills. I think I made out well though.

We probably would have found more bargains, except Staci got sick. She puked across the street from our next garage sale stop, and we quickly drove away. She felt fine afterwards and it was probably from downing a Jamba Juice in 10 seconds flat.

Afterwards, relaxing at home.

And a picture of Jasper in his new football pads and helmet. Go Gremlins!

Gremlin Football

Jasper is now officially a Gremlin. . . in football. We finalized his registration today for Hillcrest Football, and his age group is called the Gremlins. He had to weigh in, and then they gave him his helmet and pads, pants and shin things (whatever they are called). I've hardly seen him so excited. He tried on his shoulder pads and helmet, and his coach said to him "now do you want to hit something real bad?" "Uh-huh," Jasper said while nodding. Then his coach asked him if he'd been practicing, running and biking all summer to prepare for football. "Uh-huh" he nodded. In my mind I thought "running? hmm, I don't think so." I think his coach figured most kids his age don't go out running regularly - besides around the yard with their friends. So he told him it wasn't too late to start and to start running and biking everyday. "Okay" Jasper agreed.

This football program seems intense! His practices will start out 5 days a week, a couple of hours a day. Then when school starts he will practice 3 times a week after school. He needs cleats, a mouth guard, and a cup. Since Jasper is so big for his age, he will be a line man, and he is pretty excited about that.

Today when I got home from work he was at a pool with some friends. When he got home, he quickly changed out of his wet clothes, and into dry clothes, as well as into his helmet and pads. He said he needed to get used to wearing them. He's probably right. I think David and I are almost as excited about football as he is.

One Year

We got married one year ago today. I can't believe it. So much has happened in one year, but it still went by so fast. I'm a lucky gal!

Button-misser

David and I just got back from The Cheesecake Factory. The franchise arrived in Salt Lake not too long ago, and the waiting times are usually ridiculous. But today we got there before 6, and our wait was only about 1/2 hour. . . much better than the 3 hour wait my friends and I endured last time. It sure is good food.

I had just about finished my meal, and as I am huge and pregnant, I had to use the bathroom suddenly and urgently. So I struggled up from my seat (I am exaggerating a bit, but I feel so huge right now . . . pregnant pictures to come soon), and waddled off to the restroom.

Later as was washing my hands I glanced over at myself in the full length mirror. What did I see? All my buttons were completely mismatched and my shirt was noticeably crooked. I was wearing one of those empire waist pregnancy shirts, so the empire waist tie thing was completely crooked, and one of my shirt tails was significantly longer than the other. I just burst out laughing.

Then I remembered all the places I'd been today with my mis-buttoned shirt. . . well - all over the cheesecake factory, wandering around to find the bathroom, the mall next door while we were waiting to be seated, blah blah blah. Oh well!

Everyone at work can't stop commenting on how HUGE I look. Especially the claimants I am helping, who are complete strangers. As soon as they realize I'm pregnant, they love to comment on it and ask me when I'm due, what I'm having, etc. Sometimes they ask if I've gotten all the baby stuff I need yet. Um. . . not at all. I figure I'll get it eventually. All he needs is milk and diapers right? Kidding. So Thursday, this lady asked me:

Lady: "Are you due any day now?"

Me: "no actually, I'm not due until October."

Shocked lady: "You're kidding! Are you having twins?"

Me: "nope."

What makes you say that to someone? Especially a stranger? If a friend or relative asked me that it would be nothing, but to a stranger? I just think that's weird.

I ♥ the Olympics

David and I have been watching the US Olympic trials for the last couple of weeks, and I have to say, I just LOVE the Olympics. I love watching the trials, the competitions, the wins, the losses, the tears. The Olympics are amazing!

This girl is Shannon Rowbury, and the winner of the 1500 m (1 mile). Her time was 3 minutes something, and it was so amazing to watch. She burst through the pack of runners, and as she won the expression on her face was full of so much joy. I cried. I cry watching most Olympic events - because I'm a geek like that.

This girl was in the same race as Shannon above, but didn't qualify for the Beijing. But she was amazing because - look at her! She is 16 years old and she was so fun to watch.

And then . . . there's Dara Torres. She qualified at 41 to go to her 5th Olympics. During the trials she broke multiple American records, including her own. Her first Olympics were in 1984 and she was 15. Can you imagine? 41 isn't that old - but compared to the rest of the competitors who are 16, 17, 20, it must really feel old. She is so inspiring.

Mismatched

While we were at church yesterday, I looked over at Dave and couldn't believe what I saw.

First, his suit buttons. I took his suit to the dry cleaners over a month ago, and while there the cleaners guy didn't want his buttons to fall off so he put those one plastic things through the button holes to keep them in place. You know, those plastic fastener things that connect a price tag to a shirt you want to buy? I don't know what they're called, but he used those to temporarily prevent his buttons from getting torn off while being dry cleaned.

Anyway, I looked over at him and he had two or three plastic fasteners in every single button of his suit, including the buttons on his coat sleeves, and the button on his pants above the zipper.

*Picture I borrowed from the Internet.

Then, I saw that he was wearing mismatched socks. Not only mismatched, but MINE. One of my brown and white striped socks (his suit is dark gray), and one of my pale purplish gray socks.

Ahh!

I felt bad, because obviously this means I am way behind with the laundry, especially with the sock laundry. And it also means that I need to remove the temporary plastic tags as soon as I get back from the cleaners, because David surely won't be removing them from his buttons on his own. He didn't even care - or know what they were.

It did give me a good laugh though, and I was alert through the rest of Sunday school.

:)

Family Reunion

Last weekend the McKinnon family had a reunion at Jacob Lake, Arizona. It was the perfect place for a reunion, and the perfect camping spot for 50+ people and 2 dogs. I don't have any pictures though. I let my sister and mom and cousins do all of the picture taking for me. We camped and talked and ate, and had a quick look at the north rim of the grand canyon. It was so good to see all the family. Normally we only get together for weddings, funerals, or mission farewells, so this was a treat. There were a few families that couldn't make it, and we missed them. We'll have to have another reunion soon (I'm not volunteering to plan it).



A couple days before Dave and I left for the reunion, we cleaned out our shed (that is a picture of it to the left - it looks like a mini barn) and reorganized everything in it. We found so much camping stuff! Between the two of us, we have about 8 sleeping bags + 1 of Jasper's. We have 2 tents, 2 frame packs, 3 coolers, and 8 lanterns. You'd think that means we've been camping a ton. But this last weekend was the first time we've been camping together. David use to camp all the time a few years back and I camped much more often as well. This camping trip - and the realization of how much camping stuff we have - has given us the camping bug. Sleeping is a little uncomfortable camping right now for me and my huge belly - but it is uncomfortable for me at home too. When Jasper gets back we plan on going camping a bunch this summer. There are so many places around us to go.

Jasper has been having fun in Ohio. He's visited Lake Eerie, and just went to Cedar Point. Apparently Cedar Point is a fantastic amusement park, and makes Lagoon look like nothing.
Cedar point currently holds the world record for most roller coasters with 17, one of them being the world's second tallest and second fastest roller coaster. It also is the only park in the world with 75 rides (the most). In comparison, Lagoon has 8 roller coasters. :)


We miss you jasper and I'm jealous you got to go to Cedar Point.


Not much else is new - David is still working on the house. I pulled some weeds the other day, and helped him hold a board up so he could nail it. Oh, and I also held a board while he sawed it, and told him where I'd like the power outlets to be. I'm such a great help!

Fruity Pebbles

Dear Jasper,

Today I ate the rest of your favorite cereal, Fruity Pebbles. It did not live up to my expectations! This is your favorite cereal and you would have it for breakfast every morning if you could. But I have to say, I think it tastes like mush and is pretty much just gross. But I love you anyway.

Michelle

Week and Weekend

Here are some random pictures of the past week and weekend.

David took all week of last week to work on our house. The house has a carport-shed type thing on the side of the house, that David is connecting to the actual house. It will act as a mud room/laundry room and I can't wait until its finished. Once this is done we can move the washer and dryer from the basement upstairs, and then he will start working on the basement. What a handy guy. He's had all sorts of helpers all week, including my dad, Lori, Jasper, Todd and Heather, a cousin/electrician, and of course our neighbor Larry.







Jasper and his cousin Kazia are now in Ohio having a wonderful summer vacation with their other cousins and Aunts and Uncles. They left Sunday morning, so Kazia slept over Saturday night and we stayed up playing Apples to Apples.

According to the game, I am Extreme, Haunting and Meek.

And Jasper is Hilarious, Powerful, Bold, Primitive, and Lucky.




In the SLC airport parking lot. . .

And then at the airport. They got to fly their by themselves and got special attention by the flight attendants and early boarding. They made it safely there and apparently already had a fun trip to Lake Eerie.

Here's an attempt at a video.

The Worst

You know what is the worst?

Having a bad cold.



What's worse than that?

Having a bad cold while pregnant.



What's worse than that?

You can take very few medicines while pregnant, so your cold symptoms seem even more horrible.



What's even worse than that?

While you are pregnant with a cold having taken only limited medications that don't really work, your husband is trying to do some remodeling on the house and you are not of much help.

And the VERY WORST thing - is that the duck baby mama is gone and her nest full of eggs is now motherless. I did some research on the internet about what to do with an abandoned duck nest, and I read that duck mamas very rarely abandon their nests and that it is more likely that the mother was killed or injured. Also, apparently abandoned duck eggs rarely live even if we had an incubator.

So we have bad news.

On a lighter note - baby boy baby moves a ton and I love it!

Duck Baby Mama and other news

Becky accused me of being a "blog non-updater." I realize it has been a while, and I have no excuse except for being tired and not feeling like updating. Here are some things that have been going on around here.

Jasper did very well in his pinewood derby. He even got the "Smoothest Ride" award. These are some pictures from my camera phone, and they didn't turn out very well. The car that says "AMERICA" is Jasper's and the car with the stars is David's.

Jasper's last day of school was Wednesday. Since then he's had nonstop fun. Thursday he got to have his mom and Grandma come up and take care of him while David and I were at work. Then, his aunt and cousin joined them and they all went to Boondocks and had a blast with the go-carts, the miniature golfing, and everything else. Friday my mom came up and they went to the library, McDonalds, and Kung Fu Panda.

While Jas was out partying with his family on Thursday night, David and I were out back doing some weeding. When David bought this house it came complete with an old picnic table. This picnic table has been sitting on the side of the yard pretty much since then. We moved it to get some of the weeds underneath it, and David saw a ball of feathers. He moved the feathers and found a nest of eggs - huge Duck eggs!



Lately we had been seeing a duck wandering around our back yard often and we wondered what in the heck she was always coming over for. There is a pretty big canal down the road and the duck traffic is pretty heavy around here anyway, so it wasn't too out of the ordinary. But I guess now we know why she has been around.


Not soon after we discovered her nest, she came back and found us near it. She quacked nervously and then flew off. We were worried she'd abandon it. But, not to fear, she came back and sat on it almost all day yesterday Jasper informed me. We even had a little BBQ in our back yard right next to her nest and although she was visibly nervous and very aware of us, she didn't budge from her nest almost the entire night.



We threw bread crumbs at her, because - heck she must be hungry. But then I think she thought we were harassing her and she flew off. She then brought back Daddy duck, and she and the daddy kept flying back and forth, sitting on the roof, and the neighbor's roof, spying on us and watching us for the rest of the evening. We finally left and we put her picnic table back, and she's sitting three contentedly right this minute.

I wonder if Duck Baby Mama has as hard a time sleeping as me? I think it might be even more uncomfortable sleeping on a pile of 11 eggs, then sleeping with one baby in your tummy. What do you think?

Happy Birthday David

It's my husband's birthday!

David loves:

Ultimate Fighting (David saw me writing this and corrected me. He doesn't love Ultimate Fighting, he just likes to watch it a lot)!

Fresh fruit!

Sour Patch Kids!

Reading. He especially loves to read philosphy and books on religion (our religion or otherwise).

And of course, the Utah Jazz!

I sure am lucky. Happy Birthday Dave!